Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate must first resolve the issue of jurisdiction in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that any misstep could trigger constitutional challenges.
Speaking to reporters, Cayetano emphasized that determining jurisdiction is a necessary first step before the Senate can consider evidence or vote on the case.
“Ang uunahin mo parati ay jurisdiction. So, kahit saang korte, bago mo ipalatag ang ebidensya, titingnan mo muna kung may jurisdiction ba ang korte o wala,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker supported the Senate’s earlier move to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives, noting that pushing through with a dismissal could have risked violating constitutional safeguards.
“We really have to take a deep breath and think what’s best for the country.”
“We really have to take a deep breath and think what’s best for the country. And that’s precisely why we agreed, and I moved ‘yung suggestion na ibalik muna — whether we call it remand, return, or ibalik muna — sa House, because ang magiging botohan sana noong araw na iyon is to dismiss [the impeachment case],” the senator stressed.
He said questions remain on whether the one-year ban on multiple impeachment complaints was violated, since three previous complaints were filed but not acted upon by the House.
“Ang hindi klaro kasi in this case, hindi nila pinagalaw ‘yung tatlong complaints. So, ang question, did they violate their own rules?” Cayetano asked.
“Ang kailangan namin ay facts from the House kung ano’ng nangyari sa tatlong ‘yon? Gumalaw ba ‘yan? Tapos anong nangyari sa pang-apat?” he added.
Cayetano acknowledged that opinions within the legal community and the Senate vary, especially with 12 new senators coming in.
He noted that only the Supreme Court can ultimately resolve the constitutional issues involved.
“The more we talk about it, the more convinced I am na ang magde-decide niyan ay ang Supreme Court.”
“The big issue talaga is the jurisdiction. And the more we talk about it, the more convinced I am na ang magde-decide niyan ay ang Supreme Court,” Cayetano said.
He warned against jumping ahead to the evidentiary phase without first establishing legal footing and stressed the need for the Senate to act carefully and faithfully in its role as an impeachment court.
“I can only assure the public na aabot tayo sa ebidensya if the whole impeachment court says na wala itong fatal constitutional defect that takes out jurisdiction from the court,” Cayetano said.
“Lawyers will be lawyers, prosecutors will be prosecutors, defendants will be defendants. Ang question lang, paano natin gagawin faithfully ang trabaho natin? Paano magkaroon ng tunay na hustisya?” he concluded.
